
The CDU remained the strongest party in the local elections in Hesse. Prime Minister Boris Rhein categorically rules out cooperation with the AfD, even though it has gained support.
Fulda/Wiesbaden – “We will not cooperate with the AfD,” said the CDU politician to the radio station Hit Radio FFH. Politically, they are “like galaxies apart.” Nevertheless, he is worried about the party's performance. Rhein sees many protest votes in the election results: “There are a lot of voices from people who are not right-wing radicals, who are not right-wing extremists, who do not vote for a right-wing party because they think that way.” These are people who are disappointed and feel left behind. These votes must be won back.
Local elections in Hesse: Boris Rhein rejects AfD as a partner
The The CDU received 29.7 percent of the vote nationwide in the local elections in Hesseas the State Statistical Office announced in Wiesbaden on Monday night. The SPD followed with 20.2 percent. The AfD secured third place with 15.9 percent. The numbers are the trend results after counting the ballot papers with list crosses. Ballots that were cumulated and variegated were only counted on Monday.
Hesse's CDU general secretary Leopold Born viewed his party's result as a signal of stability. According to the first trend result, the party not only did better than in the previous two local elections, but also made gains compared to the 2025 federal election, he said in Wiesbaden. The CDU is clearly “local party No. 1”. Hesse.
At In the local elections five years ago, the Hessian CDU achieved 28.5 percentin 2016 it was 28.9 percent. In the 2025 federal election, the Union in Hesse also achieved 28.9 percent of the second votes.
On Sunday, new district councils, city council and community representative meetings as well as local councils were elected in Hesse. However, due to the complex electoral system, the counting of votes for the nationwide preliminary overall results is likely to take a few days in some places. (with dpa material)





